The body of work that all the Northwest Conference teams have built since the middle of November, culminates with the start of regional playoffs this Friday and Saturday. All eight teams are NWC tested, and NWC tough.
Of those eight teams, only the Meridian and Mount Vernon boys are in “must win” situations. Both need to come away with victories to advance to their respective dome’s, Yakima and Tacoma. Once there, they would then play on state tournament-Wednesday, and must win that to get into the quarterfinals, which begins the double-elimination rounds.
The rest, Lynden, Anacortes, and Lynden Christian boys, and the Lynden, Nooksack Valley, and Lynden Christian girls, are seeded high enough that if any were to lose their regional game, they would still play on state-Wednesday. That would be a loser out game, however, same as the Meridian and Mount Vernon boys.
But, those six teams, with a win this weekend, advance straight to the state quarterfinals, which begin on Thursday.
The initial takeaway from the release of the brackets, brought a couple things to mind. The #12 seed given to the Mount Vernon Bulldogs in the 3A tournament, as they spent the entire season in the top three, and finished third in the state RPI. Also, the home court advantages.
First, the #12 seed given to the Mount Vernon boys.
The season records earned by the Metro League is not up to par with previous years, yet Eastside Catholic (#6 RPI, 19-6), Garfield (#11 RPI, 15-5), and O’Dea (#16 RPI, 17-9) were seeded 2, 3, and 4. Eastside Catholic is the best in the Metro, and had some quality non-league wins. I don’t doubt their seeding. And time will tell for Garfield and O’Dea. With the Metro’s dominance over the years, they could certainly prove their worth. But we’re talking about this year.
Even if those teams prove to be seeded accordingly, the Bulldogs dropping to 12 is the bigger travesty.
Rainier Beach (#21 RPI, 13-10) and West Seattle (#24 RPI, 16-11), more Metro teams, both with double-digit losses, are seeded higher than the Bulldogs.
If I were a Bulldog, this would add to my hunger, and rejoice in the fact that there is a home game awaiting Saturday night to get it started.
I think Meridian did very will with their 13-11 record to get the #10 seed in the 1A tournament. That puts them in the “host” position, and will benefit from a game at Mount Vernon, Friday night. The season has toughened the Trojans, who are playing their best at the right time.
From the outside, it appears obvious that the seeding committees don’t follow the same procedures. Teams have not been seeded directly by RPI since the seeding committees were formed. They only use the RPI as a tool. Some committees surely use it more than others.
As far as home court advantages are concerned, I’m not in favor of them in what is considered state tournament games. Of course, home sites are used in football and soccer, but I don’t see “home” advantages in those sports being as big of a factor as in the gyms.
In 2013, Lynden hosted Sumner in a regional game, and after that season, there became a rule against it. Somewhere along the way, it was put back in play.
Last year, there were nine teams that hosted regional games, but they seemed more “under the radar.” For example, the Arlington boys played on their home floor, but it was at the end of a full day of games in their gym.
To the games…
2A Boys
Friday, 2/23, 6pm at Lynden High School
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 530pm
Loser to Wednesday 9pm elimination game vs Enumclaw-Pullman winner
The Mustangs own one of the best nicknames and logos in the state. They tied Grandview with 10-2 records at the top of the CWAC. They split their two league games before the Greyhounds took the Mustangs in the district title game. The Mustangs defeated Selah to qualify for state.
Last year, the Mustangs upset Anacortes in regionals, and lost to Lynden in the semis. They took fifth place. Keep an eye on the McClure boys. Kory, 6-0 senior, and Koby, 6-3 junior, can really shoot the lights out.
What can you say about the Lions, who have won four of the past five state championships? That’s more than a couple turnovers of the roster. They are one of a handful of teams in the mix to win this year’s title.
Common opponents: Lakewood 75, Prosser 66, in the SunDome Shootout. Lynden over Lakewood 57-43, and 62-53. Zillah 85, Prosser 80. Lynden lost to Zillah, 60-55, also in the SunDome Shootout. (The score on the schedules is wrong!)
2A Girls
#7 White River (20-3) vs Lynden (23-1)
Friday, 2/23, 8pm at Lynden High School
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 2pm
Loser to Wednesday 1030am elimination game vs North Kitsap-Sammamish winner
The Hornets and the Lions have a lot of history in holiday tournament meetings, including this season, won by the Lions 58-47 in late December. The Hornets beat the Lions in last year’s regional match up in Mount Vernon, 51-45, when the teams had identical seeds as this year. White River was the SPSL 2A league and District 2/3 champions.
The Lions have the single loss to Nooksack Valley, and have now won 15 in a row. Speaking of streaks, the #1 seed Ellensburg Bulldogs have won two straight state championships, and 72 straight games. The most recent win was in overtime over Prosser in the district championship.
Common opponents: Kings 52, White River 49. Lynden 49, Kings 33.
1A Boys
Friday, 2/23, 8pm at Mount Vernon High School
Winner to Wednesday 1030am elimination game vs Seton Catholic-Lynden Christian loser
Loser is out
Eagles were 9-7, fourth place in the Nisqually 1A League. They took third in the district tournament, eliminating Cascade Christian. They played #3 Annie Wright three times this season, losing by 56, 36, and 41 points. They have one senior on the roster, and are led in scoring by 6-2 sophomore Jabez Boyd at 16 points per game, and 6-0 freshman, Judah Noonan, at 11 a game.
The Trojans had to lean on their “role players” heavily in the district tournament, and they came through with flying colors. That sets up well for the immediate future. In their last state tournament appearance, the Trojans got to the state quarterfinals in 2020, but were eliminated after losses to Lynden Christian and Cashmere.
The teams have no common opponents.
1A Girls
Saturday, 2/24, 12pm at Lynden High School
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 715pm
Loser to Wednesday 345pm elimination game vs Cascade Christian-Montesano winner
Lakeside went 10-3 in the Northeast 1A, good for second place, behind #2 seed Deer Park. They also took second in the district tournament. The Eagles lost to Deer Park three times, all by 14-18 points. They qualified for state with a 74-25 win over Chelan in the District 6/7 crossover games.
The Lyncs, following a loss to Nooksack Valley, responded with a win over Meridian to qualify. The Lyncs and the Pioneers have split the last two 1A championships, and are on opposite sides of the state bracket.
The Lynden Christian and Lakeside have no common opponents.
1A Boys
Saturday, 2/24, 2pm at Lynden High School
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 2pm
Loser to Wednesday 1030am elimination game vs Life Christian-Meridian winner
The Cougars are undefeated in 2024, having won 13 straight games, through the district championship win over #8 Tenino. They won the 1A Trico League with a 10-0 record. The Cougars certainly cannot match the experience on the Lyncs roster, and their back-to-back state championships. Much like Meridian’s opponent, Life Christian, Seton Catholic also has only one senior on their roster. Their leading scorer is 6-4 freshman, Kaiden Wilson, averaging 18 points a game. Junior guard Brady Angelo averages 11 points a game.
The Cougars and the Lyncs have no common opponents.
1A Girls
Saturday, 2/24, 4pm at Mount Vernon High School
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 530pm
Loser to Wednesday 9pm elimination game vs Cedar Park Christian-Cashmere winner
The Wildcats took fourth out of four teams in the SCAC west with a 1-5 record. They had to win a play-in game to their eight-team district tournament, then swept the field in three games. That includes a win over Wapato, who is the state’s fifth seeded team, in the championship game.
The Pioneers only loss on the season was in late December to Lake City High School, who finished second in the state of Idaho in the 5A (out of six) classification.
The teams have no common opponents.
2A Boys
Saturday, 2/24, 6pm at Bellevue College
Winner to Thursday quarterfinals, 345pm
Loser to Wednesday 715pm elimination game vs White River-Columbia River winner
The Redhawks went 9-1 in winning the Kingco 2A Conference. They have won ten straight games, including the District 2/3 championship. In the title game, they beat the state’s #3 seed, North Kitsap, on a 3-pointer, at the buzzer, in overtime. They hit 104 points in a recent win over Evergreen, and have scored 80 or more points, eleven times.
Renton qualified for the state tournament last year as the #3 seed, but lost in regionals to Lynden, and in a state elimination game to Tumwater.
Common opponents: Renton 74, West Valley-Yakima 72. Anacortes 77, West Valley-Yakima 53.
3A Boys
#13 Todd Beamer (19-4) vs Mount Vernon (20-3)
Saturday, 2/24, 6pm at Mount Vernon High School
Winner to Wednesday 1215pm elimination game vs Mountlake Terrace-O’Dea loser (Tacoma Dome)
Loser is out
The Titans are making their fourth state tournament appearance, and their first since taking fifth place in 2014. They finished second in the North Puget Sound 3A League, behind the state top seed, Auburn, who made up three of the Titan’s four losses on the season. Their roster is made up of juniors and seniors.
The Bulldogs got a taste of state last year, but their season ended in a home loss to Walla Walla in the regional play-in game. On paper, the Titans seem to be a formidable opponent for the Bulldogs, and both teams are one win from the Tacoma Dome. The home court could be the key here.
The Titans and Bulldogs have no common opponents.
Conclusion:
We can talk about home courts, or seeds, or whatever else, but it all comes down to the match up you have in front of you. Northwest Conference teams toughen each other up along the way, and there is a ton of dome experience on those rosters. It should be another fun ride.
My schedule this weekend will take me a few minutes away to Lynden High School for the Lynden boys and girls games Friday night, and the Lynden Christian girls and boys games Saturday afternoon. The plan is also to be in Bellevue for the Anacortes game, at 6pm Saturday.
You can follow me on ‘X’ @TEDnwc, and at NWCBasketballReport.com for game recaps.
~ Ted House
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